OLD MAN (laying his hand on his head).  Take courage, astore.  You will be a wise man yet, with the help of God.  Come with me now, and help me to divide these scraps. (The child gets up.) That’s it now; dry your eyes and don’t be discouraged.

CONALL (wiping his eyes).  What are you making three shares of the scraps for?

THE OLD MAN.  I am going to give the first share to the geese; I am putting all the cabbage on this dish for them; and when I go out, I will put a grain of meal on it, and it will feed them finely.  I have scraps of meat here, and old broken bread, and I will give that to the hens; they will lay their eggs better when they will get food like that.  These little crumbs are for the little birds that do be singing to me in the morning, and that awaken me with their share of music.  I have oaten meal for them. (Sweeps the floor, and gathers little crumbs of bread.) I have a great wish for the little birds. (The old man looks up; he sees the little boy lying on a cushion, and he asleep.  He stands a little while looking at him.  Tears gather in his eyes; then he goes down on his knees.)

OLD MAN.  O Lord, O God, take pity on this little soft child.  Put wisdom in his head, cleanse his heart, scatter the mist from his mind, and let him learn his lesson like the other boys.  O Lord, Thou wert Thyself young one time:  take pity on youth.  O Lord, Thou Thyself shed tears:  dry the tears of this little lad.  Listen, O Lord, to the prayer of Thy servant, and do not keep from him this little thing he is asking of Thee.  O Lord, bitter are the tears of a child, sweeten them; deep are the thoughts of a child, quiet them; sharp is the grief of a child, take it from him; soft is the heart of a child, do not harden it.

(While the old man is praying, the TEACHER comes in.  He makes a sign to the children outside; they come in and gather about him.  The old man notices the children; he starts up, and shame burns on him.)

TEACHER.  I heard your prayer, old man; but there is no good in it.  I praise you greatly for it, but that child is half-witted.  I prayed to God myself once or twice on his account, but there was no good in it.

THE OLD MAN.  Perhaps God heard me.  God is for the most part ready to hear.  The time we ourselves are empty without anything, God listens to us; and He does not think on the thing we are without, but gives us our fill.

TEACHER.  It is the truth you are speaking; but there is no good in praying this time.  This boy is very ignorant. (He and the old man go over to the child, who is still asleep, and signs of tears on his cheeks.) He must work hard, and very hard; and maybe with the dint of work, he will get a little learning some time. (He puts his hand on the cheek of the little boy, and he starts up, and wonder on him when he sees them all about him.)

THE OLD MAN.  Ask it to him now.